Korean food outlets face pork origination rules

Fast food restaurants and cafeterias from this week must
mark the country of origin for the meat they use, with the government to
supervise implementation from October after a three-month grace
period.

RevisionThe Food, Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said yesterday that a revision to the Act on
Agricultural Product Management will be officially announced in which, fast food
chains and cafeterias at schools, companies, public organizations and hospitals
must mark the country of origin for beef, pork and chicken and processed food
from the three meats.

Earlier the government made it mandatory for
restaurants larger than 100 square meters to mark the country of origin. The new
rule will apply to beef from this week and will come into effect for
pork and chicken from the end of December.

FinesThose who fake labelling on the country of
origin will face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won
($28,571). Failure to correctly mark country of origin will result in 10 million
won fine ($9,500) and administrative action, including a shutdown for up to a
month.